Nicholas and Alison encountered each other for the first time in the intimacy of a bedroom, oblivious to the fact that she was his spouse, a woman he had been married to for two years yet had never laid eyes on. After he was back in his homeland, the powerful magnate Nicholas found himself intrigued by Alison, a lawyer celebrated for her striking appearance and sharp intellect. Faced with Nicholas' advances, Alison responded with composure, "Mr. Bowman, I am already married." Following their separation, Alison offhandedly brought up her former husband. "His name was Nicholas Bowman."
Inside a dimly-lit hotel suite, Alison Conley, panting, raised her head and clung limply to the man on top of her, her fingers digging into his back, leaving a trail of intimate red marks.
Later on, as dawn broke and the sound of running water echoed from the bathroom, Alison's eyes fluttered open. Fragments of the previous night returned to her-she had been drugged with some kind of aphrodisiac and ended up sleeping with a drunk man.
His handsome face lingered in her memory, a face she felt she had seen before.
As she was gathering her bearings, the water stopped, and then the bathroom door creaked open.
A tall man stepped out with nothing but a bath towel wrapped low around his waist. Water dripped from the strands of hair on his forehead, trailing down his chiseled torso and meandering into his V-line. In a word, he looked like a seductive Greek god.
Alison propped herself up, wincing as her sore body ached, and stared at the man's perfectly handsome face. Suddenly, her heart skipped a beat.
Shit! How could it be him? No wonder he looked so familiar!
The man before her was none other than her husband, Nicholas Bowman. He had gone abroad two years ago, since the beginning of their marriage.
However, while she clearly recognized Nicholas, he seemed to have no recollection of who she was.
Ironic, indeed.
When Alison was only fifteen, her father had passed away, and soon after, her mother remarried. Then, her half-brother, Samuel Powell, was born, adding another layer to her complicated life.
In the year of her graduation, Alison's life took a turn for the worse. Her stepfather's business hit rock bottom, forcing them to seek help from the influential Bowman family. Geoffrey Bowman, the formidable patriarch, seized the opportunity to bring up the long-forgotten arranged marriage between their families, using it as a condition before offering any financial support.
Alison's stepsister, defiant and headstrong, flat-out refused the arranged marriage and fled, leaving chaos in her wake.
Desperation drove Alison's mother to push her forward, insisting that she would make a good match for Nicholas.
At that time, Geoffrey was gravely ill, and he yearned to see his grandson wed before kicking the bucket. He pulled every string to ensure the marriage happened.
However, the ever stubborn Nicholas despised the idea of a wife being forced upon him. He even sent his assistant, Joshua Fletcher, to handle the marriage registration, avoiding Alison throughout the whole process.
As soon as the marriage became official, Nicholas left for a business venture abroad, leaving Alison with nothing but a promise-that after two years, they would get a divorce.
Two years had passed. Alison had caught wind that Nicholas had returned from abroad, but never expected their first encounter would be in bed.
"You'd better keep your mouth shut." As Nicholas spoke, he gestured at the check on the bedside table.
A check to buy her silence? Alison fumed silently. This man was humiliating her.
On ordinary days, she would catch fleeting glimpses of him on television. He always appeared untouchable, exuding an air of aristocratic elegance, as if the mundane troubles of the world could never reach him.
Two years ago, he had left before even seeing his wife, making Alison the town's laughingstock.
Anger and a flicker of vengeful resolve burned within Alison. Clenching her fists, she suddenly felt determined to shatter his facade and watch him crumble in embarrassment.
Alison rose gracefully from the bed, draping a loose bathrobe around her shoulders. She flipped her hair back with a flourish and let out a playful whistle at Nicholas, calling his attention. Then, she plucked the check from the bedside table and tore it in half, tossing the pieces into the trash can.
This action was undoubtedly a provocation to Nicholas.
Sure enough, Nicholas' expression darkened. His eyes locked onto hers as he asked in a dangerously low voice, "What? Was that amount not enough for you?"
Alison's lips curled into a mocking smirk. "Last night was just a game between adults. No need to try and buy my silence."
She paused, her smile turning seductive. "What's the matter, sir? Can't handle the stakes?"
Nicholas' expression turned even more sinister. With a slight, menacing smile playing at the corners of his mouth, he looked like Satan incarnate, exuding an icy aura that sent shivers down her spine.
Nicholas was notoriously ruthless, and it was no secret that those who crossed him never met a good end.
Despite the fear creeping in, Alison plucked up the courage to step forward, even going so far as to jab a finger at Nicholas' chiseled chest. "To be honest, I was quite satisfied with your performance last night. Are you offering a monthly package? Name your price."
Yelena discovered that she wasn't her parents' biological child. After seeing through their ploy to trade her as a pawn in a business deal, she was sent away to her barren birthplace. There, she stumbled upon her true origins—a lineage of historic opulence. Her real family showered her with love and adoration. In the face of her so-called sister's envy, Yelena conquered every adversity and took her revenge, all while showcasing her talents. She soon caught the attention of the city's most eligible bachelor. He cornered Yelena and pinned her against the wall. “It's time to reveal your true identity, darling.”
The dream of everyone with regards to marriage is to be able to find that special someone and settle down with them. Even arranged marriages grant you an opportunity to meet your partner briefly before the wedding. How will you feel about waking up in the morning with someone sleeping next to you who is not just anyone but your legally married partner yet with no memory of how that had happened in just a few hours of going out the previous day? This is the story of Jason Haward and Julia Harrison, two strangers trapped in a marriage they never planned. The quest to find out why led to the unfolding of a mystery which made them realize they are both living a lie. To find out more, read this amazing story of love, betrayal, revenge and murder.
"Sign the divorce papers and get out!" Leanna got married to pay a debt, but she was betrayed by her husband and shunned by her in-laws. Seeing that her efforts were in vain, she agreed to divorce and claimed her half of the properties. With her purse plump from the settlement, Leanna enjoyed her newfound freedom. The constant harassment from her ex's mistress never fazed her. She took back her identities as top hacker, champion racer, medical professor, and renowned jewelry designer. Then someone discovered her secret. Matthew smiled. "Will you have me as your next husband?"
A man like Travis Sinclair wants nothing more than a woman who matches his sexual prowess and is used to getting everything he wants. A cold-hearted billionaire ,he lives by one rule - no love, no commitment. Ayanna Davies isn't looking for a relationship. She's focused on her work and the financial security it brings. As a high end escort, her client is full of filthy rich men who are willing to pay handsomely for her services. But when Travis Sinclair becomes one of her clients, she begins twice about mixing work with pleasure. Not knowing that he is an old acquaintance whom she despises.
After three loveless years, Neil's betrayal deeply wounded Katelyn. She wasted no time in getting rid of that scoundrel! After the divorce, she devoted herself to career pursuits. Rising to prominence as a top designer, skilled doctor, and brilliant hacker, she became a revered icon. Neil, realizing his grave mistake, tried in vain to win her back, only to witness her magnificent wedding to another. As their vows were broadcast on the world's largest billboard, Vincent slid a ring onto Katelyn's finger and declared, "Katelyn is now my wife, a priceless treasure. Let all who covet her beware!"
In Lothlann Continent, talent in martial arts won cultivators respect. Darren Chu, a mediocre talent in martial arts, was deemed a loser by everyone. His status changed when a fireball fell from the sky and hit him on the head. He cheated death. Empowered with the ability to assimilate other creatures' talent, Darren sought to better himself and seek vengeance against those who had wronged his family, including his little sister. "You will kneel in front of me one day," swore the future lord of martial arts.